The Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU) is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research centre at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE).

Established in 2003, the ZWU is dedicated to innovative environmental research. The Centre has been created to address the environmental impact of global social changes and challenges such as urbanisation and megacities, climate change, water availability and quality and the implications for human life.

The ZWU´s primary activities focus on water research in a broad area of expertise within the field of water ecology, drinking water treatment & supply (contamination, evaluation, and purification), environmental toxicology & chemistry, urban water management, hydrology, hydraulic engineering and legal & economic expertise on water governance.

Pooling water expertise available in the Ruhr Area and beyond, the Centre aims to strengthen collaboration between its members. The ZWU network includes the three universities of the University Alliance Ruhr (UAR) as well as a number of Universities of Applied Sciences, Water Research Institutes and regional Water Associations and Suppliers. There are currently more than 150 ZWU members from 22 departments of the faculties Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine at the University of Duisburg-Essen as well as members from external partners from science and practice , municipal representatives and state authorities (North Rhine-Westphalia).